Flashlight



L. D. LEHMAN Dec. 6, 1949 FLASHLIGHT Filed NOV. 29, 1946 Patented Dec. 6, 1949 FLASHLIGHT Lincoln D. Lehman, Portland, reg., assignor of two-thirds to Thomas Teas Grave and Oscar G. Larson, trustees Appiication November 29, 1946, Serial No. 712,804

3 Claims.

This invention relates to flashlights and is particularly related to self-generating lights.

The primary object of the invention is to generate electric energy by a, spring motor.

A further object of the invention is to provide a compact unit wherein the motor can be wound readily and the operation controlled by an external control button.

A still further object of the invention is to provide means of winding the spring motor while holding the flashlight in the operators hand and using the same.

And a further object of the invention is the provision of a governor control for controlling the speed of the electric generator mechanism.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a transmission mechanism between the drive motor and the electric generator for in= creasing the speed of the electric generator relative to the drive motor.

These and other incidental objects will be apparent in the drawings, specifications and claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of my new and improved self-generating flashlight.

Figure 2 is a transverse cross sectional view of the flashlight assembly, taken on line 22 of Figure 1 illustrating the governor mechanism.

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view of the flashlight assembly, taken on line 33 of Figure 1, parts broken away for convenience of illustration.

Figure 4 is a cross sectional view, taken on line 4-l of Figure 1, illustrating the winding of the spring motor.

In the drawings:

My new and improved self-generating flashlight consists of a frame I consisting of longitudinal rails 2 connected together by cross members A spring motor assembly 4 is mounted within one end of the frame and consists of a shaft 5 journalled within the cross members 3 at A spring I is keyed to the shaft 5 by way of the slot 8 and is anchored to the rail 2 of the frame i at 9. The internal gear H] is revolved by the shaft 5 in one direction by the ratchet pawl i 1 engaging the teeth IZ of the ratchet wheel [3, the ratchet wheel 13 is keyed to the shaft 5. The

pawl ii is maintained in engagement with the i ratchet wheel 13 by the spring M.

The ring gear Hi drives the pinion which is iournalled to the stub shaft 56, which is fixedly mounted to the cross member 3. The pinion !5 drives the pinion I! which is keyed to the driven shaft- !8, which is directly connected to the generator 19 at 2%.. The speed of the driven shaft !8 is increased through the action of the pinion i5 and the ring gear I0 and this speed is controled by the governor assembly 2!, which consists of a disk-like member 22 keyed to the shaft l8.

As the shaft l8 revolves at a relatively high rate of speed the brake shoes 23 contact the brake drum 2A which forms part of the frame I being connected to the rails 2. The centrifugal force developed by the; brake shoes 23 is resisted by the springs 25, which may be adjusted to the various anchor holes 26 formed in the disk 22 to provide for the various desired speeds. I do not wish to be limited to this particular form of governor as various other types of governors may be applied still coming within the objects of my invention.

A brake or stopping means is provided and consists of the wedgeshape shoe 2! being movable longitudinal of the frame I best illustrated in Figures 1 and 2. This shoe passes through an openin or guide 28 within the cross member 3 and its position is controlled by the control button 29. By sliding the control button in the direction of the arrow, Figure 1, the wedge portion 3E3 engages the outer periphery 3! of the disk 22 stopping the same, or if the button 29 is pushed in the opposite direction of the arrow the wedge 38 will release the disk allowing the spring motor 4 to drive the electric generator [9.

In order to wind the spring I of the spring motor 4 I have provided two methods of winding, one is by the key 35, which is threadably mounted to the shaft 5 at 36. By rotating this key the spring may be wound and prevented from unwinding by the action of the ratchet wheel 13 being held from backward rotation by the pawl I have provided a second means of winding the spring motor by providing a ratchet bar 31 operating through the opening 38 of the case 39 of the flashlight. A lever 40 is pivotally mounted along the side of the case at 4| and has an extension 42 passing through an opening 43 located in the upper end of the ratchet bar 31. A spring it pulls the ratchet 31 inwardly of the case 39 causin the ratchet teeth 45 to ratchet over the teeth 45 of the ratchet wheel 41, which is keyed to the shaft 5 of the motor. This also raises the end 2-8 of the operating lever 40.

In the operation of the flashlight the operator holds the case 39 in his hand compressing or forcing the lever it towards the case, this pivots the same about its pivot point 4| pulling the ratchet bar 37 against the spring :34 and the ratchet 45 of the bar rotating the ratchet wheel 4? so as to wind the spring This may be done while the spring motor is driving the electric generator l9 after the button 29 has been operated to release the brake shoe 2'! from the braking disk 22.

The operation of the winding of the motor is much faster than the unwinding of the same while driving the electric generator, therefore the lever 40 needs only be operated periodically. The motor 3 may be completely rewound by the key 35 allowing the flashlight to be set down on a support furnishing a drive for the electric generator for a considerable period of time, permitting the operator to go about his work under the action of the light which requires only periodic winding.

Electric energy is delivered by the generator l9 through suitable contact bars 49 and 59 to the globe 5! located within the usual reflector 52 of the flashlight assembly, the frame l supporting all the mechanism, may be removed from the case 39 by removing the cap 60, button 29 and the key 35.

I do not wish to be limited to the exact mechanical structure as other mechanical equivalents may be substituted still carrying out the spirit of my invention, whose primary object is to provide a spring wound motor within the body of a flashlight for generating electric energy to supply the electric current to the flashlight globe, this motor only having to be Wound periodically in order to provide energy thereby allowing the operator to work under the beams of the light without having to continuously Wind the same and without the use of batteries.

I claim:

1. A flashlight comprising a casing, a frame, including longitudinal bars connected by transverse bars mounted in the casing, a 'power shaft mounted in selected cross bars, a spring-actuated motor mounted on the power shaft to control the speed of the shaft, a disk freely mounted on the 4 power shaft and provided with internal gear teeth, a ratchet wheel secured to the shaft between the motor and the disk, a pawl mounted on the disk to engage the ratchet Wheel, a stub shaft in alignment with the power shaft, gears between the stub shaft and the internal gear teeth, a brake disk fastened on the stub shaft, spring controlled brake shoes pivoted on the brake disk, said brake shoes cooperating with an annular band formed on the frame, a slidable control element mounted in a slot formed in the casing, said element having a tapered extension extending through an opening formed, in one of the cross bars and engaging the brake disk, a generator mounted on the stub shaft, a light bulb in circuit connection with the generator, and manually operated means for winding the motor.

2. A flashlight as defined in claim 1, wherein the manually controlled winding means includes a ratchet wheel on the power shaft, a spring actuated ratchet pawl mounted in the casing and extending beyond same and in engagement with the last named ratchet wheel, and a pivoted lever mounted on the outside of the casing and in operative relation with the spring-actuated pawl.

3. A flashlight as defined in claim 2, wherein the power shaft extends through one end of the casing, and a handle mounted on the extended end of the shaft.

LINCOLN D. LEI-IMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,186,422 Morgan June 6, 1916 1,209,932 Bradley Dec. 26, 1916 1,624,686 Smith Apr. 12, 1927 1,655,601 Fisher Jan. 10, 1928 2,092,845 Holmes Sept. 14, 1937 2,105,719 Collins Jan. 18, 1938 2,232,605 Holmes Feb. 18, 1941 

